Éire Óg rocket into title contention

Éire Óg’s performances in the recent drawn and replayed Cusack Cup final sent the town club shooting up the ladder in the list of favourites for this season’s county senior title.

Saturday’s comprehensive first round championship win over Clondegad at Lissycasey confirmed the view that they are at the top in the list of favourites for championship honours.
A four-point lead at half-time, having played against a very strong wind, put them in the driving seat. Within 10 minutes of the resumption, they had pushed this lead out to 10 points. From here on the only real question was what the size their winning margin would be.

Clondegad manager, Michael Hehir was, understandably disappointed with the result.  His opposite number, James Hanrahan, felt that Éire Óg, laid the foundations in the first half. “We built up a four-point lead playing against the breeze and, unless it was a disaster altogether, we weren’t going to be caught.”

Despite the fact the team missed a lot of chances, he said they were happy enough with their performance after last week in the Cusack Cup replay. “After a few hard weeks now, fellas were a bit tired and to win by a point would have done us. We don’t have to worry about relegation at this stage.”

The town side’s forward-line caused a lot of problems for Clondegad, who were fortunate that the winner’s finishing was poor. While Clondegad’s key player Gary Brennan was in their line-up, his inability to train or play due to injury over the past few months, was evident and he struggled to be as influential as usual.

Points were swapped three times in the opening quarter after which Clondegad failed to score in the half despite the help of a very strong wind. Big target man Colm Quinlivan, who had played a key role in their Division 2 League final win a week earlier, was well policed by David Russell and the Éire Óg defence was well on top throughout.

This was reflected in the fact that Clondegad had made two changes to their attack before half time, replacing Eoghan Donnellan and Ciarán Browne with Gearóid O’Connell and Tadhg Lynch.
O’Connell would normally be in the starting line but, according to Clondegad sources, he was instructed not to play by the county U-21 hurling management team.

Early in the second half he was replaced due to injury shortly after picking up a yellow card.
Facing into the strong breeze, it was clear that Clondegad needed a big start to the second half but it was Éire Óg that took control. A Graham Glynn goal was followed by points from Shane Daniels (free) and Sean O’Meara (2) as they went 10 clear.

At the turn of the final quarter a break by Francie Nealon led to a Paudge McMahon goal for Clondegad and the same player added a point from a free to keep their slim hopes alive.
The winners continued to dictate the play and Eoin Glynn hit 1-2, the goal from the penalty spot, in the first minute of injury time to seal their victory. Clondegad’s McMahon found the net two minutes later before Glynn finished off the scoring with a point.

Éire Óg ended the game with 14 players after David Russell picked up a second yellow card in the final minute.

Éire Óg: Eoin Slattery; Donie Lyne, David Russell, Conor Brennan; Sean Corry, Ciarán Russell, Aaron Fitzgerald; Darren O’Neill Dean Ryan; Eoin Glynn, Brian Dolan, Shane Daniels; Graham Glynn, Stephen Hickey, Sean O’Meara.
Subs: Liam Corry for Dolan (43 minutes); Sean Crotty for C Russell (inj) (45 minutes); Darren O’Meara for Daniels (55 minutes).
Scorers: Eoin Glynn (1-4, 1-0 penalty); Graham Glynn (1-2); Sean O’Meara (0-4, 1f); Shane Daniels (0-3f).
Frees: 16   wides: 10.
Bookings: Darren O’Neill (56 minutes); David Russell (48 minutes and 62 minutes).
Sent off: David Russell.

Clondegad: Declan O’Loughlin; Brian Murphy, Paddy O’Connell, Cormac Ryan; Francie Neylon, Brian Carigg, Conor Gavin; Gary Brennan, James Murphy; Francis O’Reilly, Eoin Griffin, Ciarán Browne; Paudge McMahon, Colm Quinlivan, Eoghan Donnellan.
Subs: Gearóid O’Connell for Donnellan (27 minutes); Tadhg Lynch for Browne (30 minutes); Flan Enright for O’Connell (35 minutes).
Scorers: Paudge McMahon (2-3, 0-2f); Gary Brennan (0-1f).
Frees: 20   wides: 8   45s: 1
Bookings: Francis O’Reilly (27 minutes) Ciarán Browne (29 minutes) Gearóid O’Connell (32 minutes); Jams Murphy (37 minutes) Colm Quinlivan (39 minutes).

Referee: Pat Cosgrove, Corofin.